It's a travesty of all that the police stand for. Despite citizens' complaints, despite the fact that preliminary investigation has been completed, construction material samples taken and requisite documents obtained from the civic body, the cops seem to be in deep slumber.

The two big fishes Satish Shah, who built Shikhar Apartments where 98 people died and Rakesh Shah, whose three buildings collapsed in Maninagar still roam scot-free. This despite the fact that orders regarding their detention under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) act have been passed. And yet the city police claim they are "doing their best.''

Their best is apparently not enough at least not with some policemen showing "reluctance'' to take action against errant builders. Commissioner of Police P C Pande had to transfer two such inspectors and depute others to investigate into such complaints.

The "no-action'' syndrome seems to have affected all police stations in the city. At Ellisbridge, 15 such cases were registered but the police have, till Tuesday, managed to arrest only one builder Vijay Solanki of Jashoda Park Apartment in Paldi. "We are trying our best to find builders in their hideouts, but it is a difficult job,'' Inspector J J Patel of Ellisbridge Police Station said.

In Navrangpura, eight cases were registered, but the builders of only one building Yogesh Shah and Ghanshyam Patel of Parth Apartment were arrested. The Maninagar police registered 13 cases in the last month, and made arrests in only two cases. The cops have no clue as to the whereabouts of Rakesh Shah and Nirav Shah, builders of Utsav Apartment, Jalasmriti Apartments and Pujal Apartment, all of which collapsed during the Republic Day temblor.

"We have information that Rakesh has fled to South Africa and have requested officials of Customs and Central Excise at Ahmedabad airport to confirm about any such journey. We have not yet received any reply,'' Senior Inspector of Maninagar police station A C Patel said.

No arrest has been made so far in any of the cases registered at Sola High Court, Shahpur, Naroda, Naranpura and Ghatlodia police stations. What makes it worse is the attitude. "We are going slow in cases where casualty is less and are concentrating on arresting builders responsible for more deaths,'' said a senior police official. Going by that logic, Shikhar Apartment builder Satish Shah should have been behind bars by now.

It is not as if the top brass is unaware of the inaction. The Police Commissioner had on Friday transferred second inspector of Navrangpura R L Chavda to Shahpur because of his "reluctance'' to initiate action against builders involved in the eight cases registered at the police station. A C Jadeja, senior inspector of Sola police station, was deputed instead of him. B C Gadhvi, second inspector at Satellite police station, was transferred to Rakhial and Shahpur Inspector R M Desai was brought "stress on the investigation part.''

Assistant Commissioner of Police G L Singhal, who has been looking after Shaherkotda and Kalupur police stations, has been given additional charge to supervise investigations in Vejalpur and Satellite. Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Samiullah Ansari has been asked to supervise collection of samples.

When questioned, Pande told The Indian Express, "We are trying our best to track down builders. As most of them are absconding, it takes time to get them.''

Other stories in the series
» AUDA made a killing from legalising illegal buildings
» Gujarat building mafia erects a wall for cops
» Builders make getaway as police collect proof
» His building killed 100, he’s on the run, his files missing
» Buck-passing shatters survivors' hopes
» In Ahmedabad, crooks build dreams to let them crash
» Officials, professionals hand in glove with builders
» The politician is the builder's best friend here
» Builders were crooks, govt was an accomplice
» They built on quicksand of greed